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Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Definition

Alcohol abuse is problem drinking that negatively impacts your life.

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a problem pattern of drinking where you can have the same issues as alcohol abuse. Alcoholism also includes continued drinking even when there are clear problems related to alcohol that affect your physical and mental health.

Causes

The cause of alcohol abuse or alcoholism is unknown. The genes that you inherit from your family and the environment that you live in may both play a role in developing an alcohol disorder.

Risk Factors

Problems with alcohol are more common in men. Other factors that increase your chance of developing alcoholism include:

Diagnosis

Doctors ask a series of questions to assess possible alcohol-related problems, including:

Have you tried to reduce your drinking?

Have you felt bad about drinking?

Have you been annoyed by another person's criticism of your drinking?

Do you drink in the morning to steady your nerves or cure a hangover?

Do you have problems with a job, your family, or the law?

Do you drive under the influence of alcohol?

Do you have abdominal pain, vomiting, or bleeding

The answers to these questions will help determine if you have an alcohol problem.

Blood tests may be done to look for signs that alcohol use is affecting your body, including:

Looking at the size of your red blood cells

Checking for alcohol-related liver disease and other health problems

Treatment

Treatment for alcohol abuse or alcoholism is aimed at teaching you how to manage the disease. Most professionals believe that this means giving up alcohol completely and permanently.

The first and most important step is recognizing that a problem exists. Successful treatment depends on your desire to change. Your doctor can help you withdraw from alcohol safely. This could require hospitalization in a detoxification center. Healthcare staff will carefully monitor you for side effects. You may need medication while you are undergoing detoxification.

Treatments include:

Medications

Medication can help relieve some of the symptoms of withdrawal and help prevent relapse. The doctor may prescribe medication to reduce cravings for alcohol.

Medications used to treat alcoholism and to try to prevent drinking include:

Naltrexone—Blocks the high that makes you crave alcohol

Disulfiram—Makes you very sick if you drink alcohol

Acamprosate—Reduces your craving for alcohol

Education and Therapy

Therapy helps you to recognize alcohol's dangers. Education raises awareness of underlying issues and lifestyles that promote drinking. In therapy, you work to improve coping skills and learn other ways of dealing with stress or pain.

Mentoring and Community Help

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) helps many people to stop drinking and stay sober. Members meet regularly and support each other. Your family members may also benefit from attending meetings of Al-Anon. Living with an alcoholic can be a painful, stressful situation.

Relapse is common in people who are recovering from an addiction. Treatment, like taking medication and working with a therapist, may help reduce your chance of drinking and give you the support that you need if you do have a relapse.

Prevention

Realizing that alcohol causes problems helps some people avoid it. Suggestions to decrease the risk of alcohol-related problems include:

Socialize without alcohol.

Avoid going to bars.

Do not keep alcohol in your home.

Avoid situations and people that encourage drinking.

Make new non-drinking friends or join groups engaging in non-alcohol related activities.

Do fun things that do not involve alcohol.

Avoid reaching for a drink when stressed or upset.

Limit your alcohol intake to a moderate level.

Moderate is 2 or less drinks per day for men, and 1 or less for women and older adults.

A 12-ounce bottle of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor is considered one drink.

If you are a parent, having a good relationship with your children may reduce their risk of alcohol abuse.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

National epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Available at:
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA70/AA70.htm. Accessed August 23, 2012.